Improvement in stamp-cancelers



DANIEL E. EATGN.

Stamp Canceier.

Paenled Dec. 2,187'i,

du d PATENT OEEICE.

DANIEL E. EATON, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STAM P-CANCELERS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,765, dated December l2, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. EATON, of Boston, in the county of Suftblk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Oanceler for Defacing PostageStamps, Sto.; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawing which accompanies a-nd forms part of this speciiication, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

My invention relates to a new device to be used for canceling stamps, being more particularly adapted and intended for use in canceling postage-stamps.

In my invention I heat a strip of wire by a current of electricity, and with the heated wire cancel the stamp by burning or charring it, or producing a burned mark across its face. For this purpose I make a stamp or canceler handle with an insulated or non-conducting button, having a stem or spindle extending into an insulated han dle or a handle made of noirconducting material, the handle containing a spring for forcing the button outward. Across the face of the button extends a wire, the ends of which connect with metallic conductors extending through the button. Through the handle extend two wires for connection with the two poles of a battery, these wires passing through to the bottom of the handle, and so that connection is made between them by their connection with the two conductors, (when the handle and button are brought together,) and the connection of the two conductors by the wire running across the face of the button. When the connection is thus made the wire is heated by the electric current, and, by contact with a stamp, will burn a mark across its face.

The drawing represents a stamp-canceler e1nbodying my invention. A shows an end view of it 5 B, a side view; O, a cent al section.

c denotes the handle, made of ebony or other hard wood, or of glass or other suitable non-electric conductor. b is the button or head, which may be made of glass or ivory or other suitable material. Through the button two metal plates or conductors, c d, extend, and connecting these plates is a wire, c, made of iron, platinum, or other suitable metal. Through the handle pass two wires, a', connecting' or to be connected with the two wires or poles of an electric battery, the lower ends extending through the bottom of the handle into position to connect with the conductors c d when the button and handle are brought into contact. The button is kept outby a spring, j', being arrested by a pin, g, projecting into a slot, h, or in any otherl convenient manner 5 and when the handle and button are forced together (the wires .lr being connected with a battery) heat is generated in the wire e, the battery being of such power that the electric current passing through the wire shall heat it hot enough to burn or char the surface of a stamp upon which the canceler is pressed.

The wires connecting with the battery do not interfere in the least with the free movement necessary in manipulating the cancelers, and it will readily be seen that with its use postage-stamps can be not only more readily and perfectly marked than by the printing or marking cancelers now in use, but that an ineffaceable mark can be produced, the surface of the stamp or the ink or color printed thereon being charred or destroyed upon the wire striking it instead of being' simply covered with ink or color, as in the present methods of canceling postage-stamps.

The device is inexpensive and enduring, and the cost of battery-power to heat the wire is of but little account in consideration of the work that can be effected by it, particularly in canceling postage-stamps.

The wire may be heated by a current generated by frictional or other electricity, as well as by an electric current generated by battery power.

I clain1- The device for canceling postage and other stamps, constructed and operated substantially as described.

D. E. EATON.

M. W. FRoTHlNGHAM. (146) 

